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The report critiques the concept of 'sustainable intensification,' asserting that it serves as a cover for conventional intensive agriculture and the expansion of genetically modified (GM) crops. It highlights how funding from entities like the Gates Foundation and the UK government prioritizes biotechnology over agro-ecological methods. The document argues that GM crops have not delivered promised yield increases or affordable climate adaptation, and instead increase seed costs and chemical dependency. It contrasts this approach with agro-ecology and 'food sovereignty,' which emphasize small-scale farmers' knowledge and traditional practices as more sustainable and productive alternatives.

The report examines the critical intersection of transport and environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting severe road safety risks, rising urban air and noise pollution, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current transport systems are often inequitable, neglecting vulnerable groups like pedestrians and the rural poor. The document advocates for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mobility using the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated land-use planning, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and the protection of non-motorized transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

The document highlights Ethiopia's significant investment in infrastructure, spending $1.3 billion annually (10% of GDP), with a focus on energy and transport. It notes that Ethiopia requires 8700 megawatts of generating plant over the next decade to double its capacity. While Kenya is often seen as the regional anchor, the author argues that Ethiopia's growth rates since 2005/06 and its strategic importance make it a potential regional powerhouse. However, Ethiopia faces fundamental business challenges including foreign currency regulations, inflation, and a lack of competitiveness in its manufacturing sector, which contributes less than 10 percent of total merchandise exports.

The document argues that South Africa's status as an economic gateway is primarily driven by its geography and infrastructure, though this role is challenged by emerging regional and global competitors. It assesses South Africa's capacity as a hub for regional headquarters, logistics, sourcing, and finance, while examining the impact of transport corridors and trade policies on its regional dominance.

The document examines Africa's role in the 'global nuclear renaissance,' noting that the continent holds 18% of world uranium resources. It details the production activities of Namibia, Niger, Malawi, and South Africa, while identifying emerging exploration in countries like the Central African Republic and Tanzania. The author argues that while uranium mining provides significant GDP contributions and employment, it is plagued by governance challenges, including a lack of institutional capacity to monitor environmental and health impacts. The paper compares African practices with those in Canada and Australia and suggests that strengthening government capacity and adopting international best practices, such as those from the IAEA and EITI, are essential for sustainable development.

The 2050 Criteria identifies primary environmental and social risks for ten major commodity sectors—including aquaculture, beef, cotton, dairy, palm oil, soy, sugar, timber, wild-caught seafood, and bioenergy—and establishes Key Performance Criteria (KPC) to help banks and investors identify responsible practices. The document argues that the global economy is consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished, creating systemic risks for the financial sector. It promotes the use of credible third-party certifications, such as the RSPO for palm oil and FSC for forestry, as proxies for business performance and risk management. The report also highlights investment opportunities in sustainable technologies, such as methane capture systems in palm oil and dairy sectors, and the rehabilitation of degraded lands to meet growing global demand without further deforestation.

The document argues that agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa is hindered by gender gaps, as women provide the bulk of agricultural labour but lack decision-making power and access to resources. It introduces a conceptual framework for empowerment based on agency, structure, and relations, and discusses the necessity of addressing land ownership and value chain participation to improve food security and nutrition. The brief highlights that closing the gender gap in agricultural inputs could lift 100–150 million people out of hunger.

A study of 50 companies in Southern Africa identifies a split in trade barriers between SACU members and non-members, with common constraints including customs delays, corruption, and infrastructure deficits. While large firms can manage these hurdles, the environment is not conducive to small-business growth. The report recommends the implementation of a SADC-wide business visa, uniform labour permit regulations, and improvements to weighbridge and border crossing systems to facilitate trade.

The document outlines recommendations for designing REDD+ Safeguard Information Systems (SIS), emphasizing the need to harmonize reporting requirements across the UNFCCC and various funders to reduce complexity for developing countries. It suggests coordinating data collection with existing processes like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Forest Resource Assessment (FRA) to avoid duplication. The authors advocate for country-driven, flexible systems supported by international guidance, financial aid, and capacity-building, while leveraging existing stakeholder groups to improve implementation.

The report analyzes the private sector's role in the REDD+ supply chain, identifying key players as investors, producers, brokers, advisors, auditors, and end-buyers. It highlights critical barriers such as policy uncertainty, land tenure disputes, and the need for robust social and environmental safeguards. The document proposes strategies to scale up private investment, including the integration of REDD+ into compliance carbon markets, the adoption of nested crediting frameworks, and the inclusion of extractive industries in conservation dialogues.

The report examines the development of safeguard information systems (SIS) for REDD+, focusing on how to leverage existing systems to meet UNFCCC Durban guidance. It analyzes eight existing frameworks—including UN-REDD SEPC, FCPF SESA, and the Convention on Biological Diversity—and provides case studies from Ethiopia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, and Vietnam. The findings emphasize the need for harmonized reporting, multistakeholder participation, and country-driven processes to ensure transparency and avoid duplicative burdens on national focal points.

The document examines eight existing reporting processes and early actions in five countries to identify how they can support REDD+ safeguard reporting. It argues for a harmonized, country-driven approach that leverages existing data from biodiversity and forest governance systems to reduce burdens on developing nations.

The briefing addresses two distinct regional security issues: a resurfacing border dispute between Malawi and Tanzania triggered by oil and gas exploration in Lake Malawi, and the fragile security situation in Côte d'Ivoire where stalled security sector reform and DDR processes have left the country vulnerable to armed attacks.

The document details the business environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the experience of ALASKA, a company importing goods from South Africa and Mauritius. It highlights systemic failures in the DRC's administration, including a cumbersome investment code requiring travel to Kinshasa for registration, high levels of corruption among agencies like the DGDA and OCC, and a fragmented tax system. Infrastructure deficits, specifically poor roads and lack of electricity, increase transport costs and limit the import of frozen products. Additionally, the company faces financial hurdles due to a lack of trust in Congolese banks, high interest rates (up to 36% per annum for micro-finance), and a lack of harmonization in regional SADC traffic laws regarding truck weight loads.

The Bakhresa Group, a diversified conglomerate with an annual turnover exceeding USD 300 million, operates across several SADC Member States. The company faces significant operational hurdles, including inadequate energy and transport infrastructure, non-harmonised taxation, and excessive regulatory bureaucracy. These barriers increase the cost of doing business, reduce returns on investment, and limit capital for reinvestment. To mitigate these issues, the group engages in direct relationship-building with government agencies and lobbies through business councils, while advocating for regional infrastructure investment and streamlined trade facilitation.

Aluminium Africa Limited (ALAF), a leading aluminium and steel company in Tanzania, faces significant operational barriers in the SADC region, primarily driven by inadequate energy and transport infrastructure, inefficient border controls, and regulatory uncertainty. These challenges increase business costs and reduce product competitiveness. To mitigate these issues, ALAF has invested in internal backup power and lobbied the Tanzanian government, though the company notes a lack of tangible government action and minimal engagement with the SADC Secretariat.

The Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Ltd (MeTL) Group, a major conglomerate contributing 2.5% of Tanzania's GDP, faces significant operational barriers in the SADC region, primarily due to unreliable power, poor transport infrastructure, and regulatory uncertainty. MeTL reports that expensive and unreliable electricity makes local goods uncompetitive, with the Confederation of Tanzania Industry estimating annual business income losses of USD 19.6M from power interruptions. To mitigate these issues, MeTL is investing in a container depot near the Port of Dar es Salaam and planning biogas electricity generation from sisal waste. The group advocates for regional industrialization policies to protect strategic industries from competition from India and China, alongside the implementation of a regional Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework for infrastructure development.

Sumaria Group (T) Ltd, a diversified manufacturing family business based in Tanzania, faces significant systemic barriers to growth in the SADC region. Key obstacles include a lack of pharmaceutical standards harmonization, unreliable and expensive energy and transport infrastructure, and an unpredictable regulatory environment in Tanzania. To mitigate power shortages, the company has invested in stand-by generators, which increases production costs. The group advocates for regional cooperation on electricity generation, the finalization of the Zambia interconnector, and streamlined trade facilitation to reduce the cost of doing business.

The document details the obstacles Shenimed encounters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including systemic corruption in customs and certification processes, high tax burdens, and poor transport infrastructure. It highlights how a lack of reliable electricity forced the company to cease local production in Bukavu and shift to imports from Tanzania. Financial challenges are noted, specifically currency instability of the Congolese franc and a shortage of loans leading to cash flow difficulties. The company advocates for reduced customs procedures, the removal of non-tariff barriers, and better state-private sector consultation to improve the business environment.

Vodacom operates in Southern Africa facing a dichotomy between heavily regulated communication services and capital infrastructure challenges, including customs delays, high taxation, and corruption. The company leverages its size to engage with international, regional, and national bodies—such as the ITU, CRASA, and SADC—to influence policy and facilitate market penetration. While Vodacom finds regional interaction through CRASA positive, it critiques SADC for grouping communications with transport in a single protocol. The document also notes a trend of increasing government ownership and intervention in the sector, which creates tensions between the state's role as regulator and operator.